{"id":3568,"date":"2026-10-21T22:31:42","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T14:31:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.strehajone.com\/blog\/?p=3568"},"modified":"2026-10-21T22:31:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T14:31:42","slug":"are-there-any-health-risks-associated-with-wooden-packaging-46c9-eaabbe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.strehajone.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/21\/are-there-any-health-risks-associated-with-wooden-packaging-46c9-eaabbe\/","title":{"rendered":"Are there any health risks associated with wooden packaging?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever ordered a large shipment of goods, shipped pallets of produce across borders, or received a custom crate for expensive machinery, chances are wooden packaging was part of the process. For years, wooden crates, pallets, and dunnage have been the unsung workhorses of global supply chains\u2014affordable, durable, and adaptable enough to protect everything from electronics to pharmaceuticals. As a third-generation wooden packaging supplier, I\u2019ve spent decades walking warehouse floors, talking to logistics managers, and answering the same question again and again: \u201cIs there any hidden health risk in the wood we\u2019re using to ship our products?\u201d It\u2019s a fair question. Wooden packaging is natural, but that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s entirely risk-free. Over the years, I\u2019ve learned to separate fact from rumor, and today I want to share what I\u2019ve discovered about the real health risks (and the ways we mitigate them here at our facility). Wooden Packaging<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s cut through the noise about the most talked-about risk: pests. For as long as cross-border shipping has existed, invasive insects and fungi have hitched rides on wooden packaging. The most infamous is the Asian longhorned beetle, which arrived in the U.S. in the 1990s on untreated wooden crates and went on to destroy thousands of maple trees in states like New York and Illinois. But pests aren\u2019t just a threat to ecosystems\u2014some can pose health risks to humans. Bark beetles, for example, have sharp mandibles that can pierce skin during manual handling, leading to redness, itching, and even infection if not cleaned properly. That\u2019s why every shipment we send out goes through ISPM 15 treatment, the global standard for phytosanitary regulations. We heat-treat our wood to 56 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes, which kills all life stages of pests\u2014adults, larvae, and eggs\u2014so they can\u2019t survive a cross-country or international trip. We also remove all bark during processing, since bark is where most pests hide. I\u2019ve seen first-hand what happens when untreated wood slips through the cracks: a client once had their entire shipment held at a port in Europe because a single unprocessed pallet had a small beetle hole. That delay cost them tens of thousands of dollars, and it just wasn\u2019t worth the risk. For our part, we keep strict records of every treatment we do, so our clients can prove compliance no matter where they\u2019re shipping.<\/p>\n

Next up: mold and bacteria. Wood is porous, which means it can absorb moisture if it\u2019s stored in a damp warehouse, exposed to rain during transport, or not properly dried before processing. That moisture creates the perfect breeding ground for mold, some of which can produce mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are poisonous substances that can cause allergic reactions, respiratory issues, and even long-term health problems if inhaled or ingested. I\u2019ve had warehouse staff mention that old, damp pallets sometimes have a musty smell that makes their eyes water or their noses run\u2014that\u2019s often early exposure to mold spores. Bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella are another concern, especially for wooden packaging used in food and agriculture. If a pallet is used to ship raw meat or produce and isn\u2019t properly cleaned, those bacteria can linger in the wood\u2019s grain, contaminating future shipments. Years ago, we worked with a local produce company that had to recall a batch of spinach because traces of E. coli were found on pallets they\u2019d used. The problem? Those pallets were reused without any sanitization between shipments. Since then, we\u2019ve added a step to our food-grade wooden packaging line: after heat-treatment, we power-wash every crate and pallet with food-safe disinfectants, then air-dry them to a moisture content of under 19% (the sweet spot to prevent mold growth). We also don\u2019t use any chemically treated wood for food packaging, because those chemicals can leach into food over time. We test for moisture levels every hour during processing, so we never ship out wood that\u2019s too damp.<\/p>\n

Another less obvious risk is chemical exposure from wood treatments. For decades, some wooden packaging suppliers used chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a preservative that contained arsenic, to protect wood from rot and pests. Arsenic is a carcinogen, and long-term exposure to CCA-treated wood can lead to skin damage, respiratory issues, and even cancer. But here\u2019s the good news: CCA has been banned for residential and commercial use in most countries, including the U.S., since 2003. However, I still encounter old pallets and crates that were treated with CCA, especially when clients reuse their own packaging or source from unregulated suppliers. That\u2019s why we never use CCA, creosote, or other toxic preservatives in our products. Instead, we use heat treatment and natural plant-based preservatives for any wood that\u2019s going to be stored for long periods. These preservatives are non-toxic, so they don\u2019t pose a health risk to workers handling the wood or to products inside the packaging. We also train our staff to wear gloves and masks when sanding or processing wood, just in case any residual particles get into the air. Even with safe treatments, wood dust itself is a health hazard. When you sand or cut wood, tiny particles of wood get released into the air, and inhaling that dust over time can lead to occupational asthma or even chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). OSHA sets strict limits for wood dust exposure, and we follow those guidelines to the letter. We installed dust extraction systems in all our processing areas, so 99% of the wood dust is captured before it reaches our workers. We also require all staff to wear N95 masks and safety glasses during processing, and we hold quarterly training sessions on dust safety. A few years ago, one of our long-time employees developed a mild dust allergy, and we were able to adjust his role to a non-sanding position without any issues. That\u2019s the kind of care we prioritize, because our people matter as much as the products we ship.<\/p>\n

Wait, there\u2019s also the issue of splinters. I know, splinters seem like a minor nuisance, but they can cause serious problems if they\u2019re not treated. Wood splinters can introduce bacteria into the skin, leading to infections like cellulitis, which requires antibiotics. For workers handling wooden packaging all day, splinters add up: one of our warehouse managers told me she gets at least 10 splinters a week, and once she had one that got infected and kept her out of work for three days. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve invested in smoother finish processing for all our products. After cutting and sanding, we buff every edge and corner, so there are no sharp splinter-prone areas. We also include nail guards on the corners of crates, so workers don\u2019t have to deal with protruding nails that can cause injury. We\u2019ve even added first-aid stations in every area of our facility with sterile tweezers, antiseptic, and bandages, just for splinters and minor cuts. It\u2019s a small step, but it makes a big difference for both our workers and our clients who handle the packaging.<\/p>\n

Now, I want to be clear: wooden packaging is still one of the safest, most sustainable options available. Unlike plastic, it\u2019s biodegradable, and it\u2019s made from a renewable resource (we source our wood from FSC-certified forests, so every tree we use is replaced). The risks we\u2019ve talked about are not inevitable\u2014they\u2019re things that can be prevented with proper processing, training, and regulation. As a supplier, we don\u2019t just sell pallets and crates; we sell peace of mind. We know that our clients\u2019 products and their workers\u2019 health are on the line when they use our packaging. That\u2019s why we invest in the best treatment technology, follow global standards, and prioritize safety at every step.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re tired of worrying about hidden health risks in your wooden packaging, or if you\u2019re looking for a supplier that prioritizes safety and compliance, we\u2019d love to talk. Whether you\u2019re shipping food, electronics, or heavy machinery, we can customize wooden packaging to fit your needs, with full documentation of all treatments and safety measures. Let\u2019s connect to discuss your requirements and find the right solution for your supply chain.<\/p>\n

Plywood Packaging<\/a> References<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). ISPM 15: Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2021.<\/li>\n
  2. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Wood dust standard: 29 CFR 1910.1052. U.S. Department of Labor, 2023.<\/li>\n
  3. World Health Organization (WHO). Mycotoxins in food: Safety and health aspects. WHO Press, 2018.<\/li>\n
  4. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA): Phase-out of CCA-treated wood. U.S. EPA, 2002.<\/li>\n
  5. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC certification standards for responsible forest management. FSC International, 2022.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Nanjing Ruihe Packaging Technology Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    As one of the most experienced wooden packaging manufacturers and suppliers in China, we offer a wide range of products with superior quality. Please feel free to wholesale premium wooden packaging made in China here from our factory. Welcome to contact us for more details.
    Address: No.15, Wangshan Road, Taowu Town, Jiangning District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province
    E-mail: jingxiaoxu@gmail.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.ruihepackaging.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    If you\u2019ve ever ordered a large shipment of goods, shipped pallets of produce across borders, or … Are there any health risks associated with wooden packaging?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":691,"featured_media":3568,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3531],"class_list":["post-3568","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-wooden-packaging-48c6-eae13a"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.strehajone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3568","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.strehajone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.strehajone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.strehajone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/691"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.strehajone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3568"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.strehajone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3568\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.strehajone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3568"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.strehajone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3568"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.strehajone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3568"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.strehajone.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3568"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}